free walking tours la rochelle

Free Walking Tour

Great introduction to la rochelles fascinating culture, free tips only.

Highlights:

3 famous tours of la rochelle, le mail - the 'rochelais' champs elysee, cours des dames, statue of duperré, porte 2 moulins - two mills gate, lookout at fort des dames, restaurant street, the big clock tower, perfect for:, pushed for time.

We understand that you are on your holidays and time is precious so this is a great way to get a quick but sufficient overview of La Rochelle

On a budget?

We understand that holidays can be expensive so if you are on a strict-ish budget then take this tour and you can decide what you think it is worth at the end!

The Free Walking Tour is a great way to get a good introduction introduction to La Rochelle so that you can then go off exploring having got your bearings!

We take a 1.5 hour walk around the Old Port of La Rochelle stopping at some of the key sights and recounting some of the history and anecdotes that make La Rochelle the unique city that it is today.

During the tour you will discover some of La Rochelle’s traditional buildings, squares and parks all while learning about the city’s people, culture and history.

So what are you waiting for?! Click the big red ‘Book here!’ button below to reserve your place or if you still need more convincing, check out what some of our guests have said below about the tour in their reviews on our Tripadvisor page

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A Tourist Guide To La Rochelle, France: 10 Free Things To Do.

by Kathy | Dec 28, 2017 | Destinations , Europe , France , Free Things To Do | 9 comments

I am just going to come out and say it. I really think you should visit La Rochelle in France. The delightful coastal city of La Rochelle lies between Nantes and Bordeaux. However, visiting a city can be an expensive trip which is why I am going to tell you about these 10 free things to do in La Rochelle in France.

La Rochelle is my favourite city in France. I visited La Rochelle whilst travelling through the north of France during my trip around Europe in my Nissan X-trail camping car . I parked just outside the city and travelled in using the Yélo bus although there are a few free parking places in the city.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 1: Walk along the harbour medieval fortifications

The weather-beaten towers are the seaward defence that surrounds the town. There are two 14th-century towers, the Tour de la Chaîne and the Tour St-Nicolas which guard the harbour entrance. Also the 15th-century Tour de la Lanterne which is a short walk along the wall. You can walk along the wall and see the Tour de la Lanterne , the only surviving medieval lighthouse and former prison.

And if you do want to splash out, the views from the top of the Tour de la Lanterne are great – with an outdoor gallery 38 metres above the ground and with panoramas of the old town and harbour. However each tower is interesting to enter. You can buy tickets to visit two of the towers for €7.50 or all three towers for €10.50.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 2: Harbour Vieux Port (Old Port)

The sea port of La Rochelle is lovely to wander around by daytime with its old fishing boats and the trendy quayside restaurants are a great place to sit with a glass of wine or a coffee and people watch.

From most places in the Harbour Vieux you can see great views of the two medieval towers that guard the old port, the Tour Saint-Nicolas on the east side and the Tour de la Chaîne on the west. If you head down to the south side of the the harbour, there is a beautiful view of the harbour and the town.

If you are impressed by this harbour by day as I was, then you will be even more stunned by night when the harbour is lit up and the towers reflect in the calm water of the harbour.

From the old harbour, you can take a walk to the new harbour of Port des Minimes. You can also take the ‘bus de mer’, a small boat that takes 20 minutes to cross the Vieux Port at Tour de la Chaine to quay number 10 at the Port des Minimes. It costs €3 per person. You can take a look at this site to see how often it sails as between October and March, it only runs at the weekend,school and bank holidays.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 3: Vieille Ville (Old Town)

The old town of La Rochelle is full of cobblestone streets and impressive historic monuments. It is like travelling back in time wandering through the streets surrounded with seventeenth and eighteenth century buildings.

At the centre of the old town is the Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) which was built between 1595 and 1606 and decorated Renaissance style. To the edge of the Old Town, you will find the 14th-15th century Porte de la Grosse-Horloge at the end of the Rue du Palai, which is a remnant of the old town gate. This, along with the old port is lit up at night and is definitely worth a visit once the sun goes down.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 4: Street performers

Like most major cities in France, you will find street performers. Some of the main locations are near the medieval fortifications and the old town gate. There were many performances to stand and watch when I visited from singing to ones that get the crowd more involved. But please remember if you feel the act deserves it, do donate some money at the end to the person who is performing as this is how they make their living.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 5:Feed fish

Like many harbour towns, there are many hungry fish who will be willing to keep you entertained. So why not take along some leftover bread and feed these aquatic creatures.

It is lovely to sit with a cold drink with your legs hanging over the edge of the harbour whilst feeding them.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 6: People watch in Parc Charruyer

Parc Charruyer follows the old fortifications and is not too landscaped, preferring to be a little more natural, filled with a range of trees and flowers. There is a river filled with ducks and a pedestrian footbridge. To the south end of the Parc Charruyer there is green area along the seafront called the Allée du Mail. To the western side of this area, there is the city’s memorial to remember the residents of La Rochelle who were killed or missing whilst serving in a number of wars War.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 7: Street art

As a massive lover of street art, I was pleasantly surprised by what La Rochelle had to offer. Check out the area in and around the cafe/bar Belle de Gabut . Within its grounds there are some magnificent pieces. There were also some dotted around the harbour and through the winding cobbled streets of La Rochelle.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 8: Cathedral of La Rochelle

La Rochelle’s Cathedral might not compare to some of the other medieval Gothic cathedrals found in France in the nearby cities of Tours, Angers and Bordeaux. However it is still impressive in its own way. Contained within a Neoclassical building it has a Baroque style interior. Don’t forget to look up as the ceiling frescoes are very dramatic.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 9:Take a ride

One of the great things about La Rochelle is the free bike hire offered by the city . The first two hours are free and then at the cost of €1.30 per hour, it is practically free. But please note that you will be required to leave a deposit of €150.

Take a look at Quai Valin and Place de Verdun where you will see rows of yellow bikes. To hire, all you need is a form of ID such as a driver’s licence.

Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 10: La Rochelle’s Beaches

Being a coastal city, there are a few beaches at La Rochelle. The most poplar is Plage des Minimes which has golden sand and a small promenade. This is where you will find La Rochelle’s Grand Roue ferris wheel.

Plage Chef de Baie is known as the best because there are breakwaters which reduce the current and wind. It takes 15 minutes by car.

The closest beach to La Rochelle is Plage de la Concurrence. However at high tide, it almost disappears so make sure you check out the tide times before heading off to the beach.

Bonus Free things to do in La Rochelle no. 11:

I love watching the sun going down and in La Rochelle, there are a few places you can see this. La Plage des Minimes is a great beach to sit with a loved one or a friend to see the sunset.

Alternatively for a birds eye view, you can go to the cliff top near Le port du Plomb to see the sunset over the Ile de Ré bridge.

Getting Around La Rochelle, France:

The Yélo bus connects La Rochelle with the surrounding area with its 29 different lines. It is easily recognisable as it is the big yellow and white bus. It costs €1.30 per trip or you can pick up a 24 hours ticket for €4.50 or 7 day unlimited travel ticket for €12.50.

The largest train station in La Rochelle is Gare de La Rochelle which is in the city centre. From here there are many intercity trains and buses which will take you around. There are daily connections via TGV trains to Paris which takes a little over 2 hours.

As La Rochelle is a port city, they have a cool transport system to help you get around. There is a network of small solar powered Yélo barges which can take you across the harbour in less than 5 minutes. They have also provided a sea bus which can transport you around La Rochelle and beyond. Again check out the Yélo website for more information about this service.

As talked about above, La Rochelle provides free/low cost bikes for those who want to exercise as they get around. Check out the 9th free thing to do in La Rochelle for more information.

Where to stay in La Rochelle, France:

There are many places to stay in La Rochelle and I have a couple of sugguestions for you to cover all price ranges.

Don’t forget to take a look on CouchSurfing in plenty of time before your trip and see if there is someone who is willing to host you. Safety is of importance so check out my post on how to stay safe whilst couchsurfing.

Airbnb is great for finding places to stay on all budgets. You can either rent a room in a shared house or find an apartment to yourself. Don’t forget to use my link to get money off your first Airbnb stay.

A good budget option for La Rochelle is Première Classe La Rochelle Centre . It has good reviews and great options for solo, couple or even groups of travellers.

Again check out Airbnb where you can pick up a beautiful apartment for not too much damage to your purse strings. Alternatively check out Accostage Hôtel which offers nice accommodation for mid-range prices.

For those who are looking for something a little bit extra special, I suggestion the Hôtel La Monnaie Art & Spa. Which consistent great reviews and a superb location, this quirky boutique hotel is an ideal place to stay.

So there you have it, 10 free things to do in La Rochelle, France. Have you ever been to La Rochelle? If not, would you like to go? Why don’t you head over to read my other ’10 free things to do’ range to see where else I have written about. And don’t forget you can subscribe to my blog (It’s Free) to keep updated each fortnight with what I am doing and for more posts like this one. 

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La Rochelle looks like a place that I would prefer going to as I had never heard of it before. I like old towns, harbors, forts, cathedrals, street art, monuments and lots of history. Walking around and discovering little local things is my favorite way to explore a place. As you mentioned the harbor looks lovely in the night. Bus and boat rides would be fun too.

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About Walkabout Wanderer

Kathy is the face behind Walkabout Wanderer. In 2008 she went from package holidays to travelling solo around the world. Having visited over 60 countries, her passion is exploring the road less travelled and being immersed in different cultures.

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Hi there, I'm Kathy from the North of England. In 2008 I went from package holidays to traveling solo around the world and now I have visited over 55 countries. My passion is exploring the road less traveled and being immersed in different cultures.

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Free walking tour - Discover La Rochelle

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Free walking tour

After being in la Rochelle a few days we thought we had discovered most of the city ourselves until we took the walking tour with John, after 2 hours of learning about the history of the city along with plenty of tips on places to visit, eat & drink we discovered we had missed a lot of the hidden gems the city has to offer, would recommend taking this walking tour on the start of your visit to the city all delivered in a light hearted humorous way.

Thanks a lot, it was good craic with you guys! hope to see you back in LR again soon. Cheers, John

For somebody who comes to la Rochelle and wants to discover all the hidden and wonderful facts about the city. John was a wonderful guide both combining fun tips with historical facts that made our two hours fly by. He even gave us restaurant and typical bar names to go to! We fully recommend taking his tours

Muchas Gracias Paloma, hope to see you guys back here in La Rochelle soon :)

Did this on a first time visit to friends in La Rochelle. I tried the tour to get a quick grasp of this beautiful place. Guide ( of Irish origin) impressed me with his knowledge, historic and local ,all with a good sense of humour and interaction. Good quick way to know the place at start of my visit. Well done Jean

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

We stayed in La Rochelle for a few days without knowing much about it and decided to do this tour on a whim. It was a great decision - John was really friendly, witty and knowledgeable and told us some interesting bits that only 'locals' would know. He really looked after us - he could see that my old feet were getting tired towards the end so arranged for us to stop at a cafe for a while before moving on. Plus it's free!!

Thanks a million Anne, I look forward to seeing you guys back here soon!

Did the walking tour with John. Really informative and enjoyable. Handy way to hear about the main historic sites and get a few pointers on places to eat/drink and other things to do. Would totally recommend this tourt

Thanks Ruth, it was a pleasure to bring you guys around especially those two adorable daughters of yours!!

Was holidays with my wife in May. We decided to do the tour and it was amazing. The guide was well informed, showed us the major sites, but also some local hidden 'treats'. The guide was well informed, was extremely funny and extremely help in giving us advice for the rest of our stay 10/10!

It was a pleasure to have you and your wife along Chris...look forward to seeing you back here later in the year like you promised haha!

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Guided Walking Tour of La Rochelle

• Guided Walking Tour
• Access nor Entry to the Towers
• Entry/Admission - Towers of La Rochelle
• Place de la Chaîne, Pl. de la Chaîne, 17000 La Rochelle, France We will meet beside the anchor in Place de la Chaîne, just in front of Tour de la Chaîne.
• Tour Saint-Nicolas, Tours du Port, 17000 La Rochelle, France
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Place de la Chaîne Pl. de la Chaîne, 17000 La Rochelle, France We will meet beside the anchor in Place de la Chaîne, just in front of Tour de la Chaîne. See address & details
• 1 Towers of La Rochelle Stop: 10 minutes - Admission excluded See details
• 2 Vieux Port Stop: 10 minutes See details Pass by Porte des Deux Moulins
• 3 Plage de la Concurrence Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 4 Porte de la Grosse-Horloge Stop: 10 minutes See details Pass by Statue Admiral Duperre
• 5 Hotel de Ville Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 6 Place de verdun Stop: 5 minutes See details
• 7 Marche Central De La Rochelle Stop: 10 minutes See details Pass by Parc Charruyer Rue Sur-les-Murs Cathedrale St-Louis (La) Quartier Saint Nicolas
• 8 Eglise St-Sauveur Stop: 5 minutes See details Pass by Quartier du Gabut
• 9 Phare du quai Valin Stop: 5 minutes See details
• You'll end at Tour Saint-Nicolas Tour Saint-Nicolas, Tours du Port, 17000 La Rochelle, France See address & details

• Jones58 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent walking tour of La Rochelle with John We booked a tour with John on line the night before our tour. This was late in September. He met us at 2:00 and was friendly and knowledgeable about his city. This was the last day of his touring for the season and though there were only 2 of us, he led us on an excellent tour, pointing out great restaurants and specialty shops along the way. He also took us to wonderful photography sites which we wouldn't have found on our own. John would love to also lead food tours in La Rochelle. Read more Written 24 December 2019
• Jovita J 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Recommended Very nice tour, walk around the main objects, a lot of history, tips, recommendations. Very much recommended Read more Written 28 September 2019
• macthedoc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Relaxed and informative dander John does not provide a stiff history lecture - thank goodness. Instead he conveys interesting stories with relaxed humour, encouraging questions the whole time. It was hilarious observing a northern Irish guide trying to explain the difference between Protestantism and Catholicism to a New Zealander! Book his tour on Day One of your trip Read more Written 14 July 2019
• Caroline J 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic free walking tour from John My husband 2 adult children and their partners had the pleasure of participating in John's free walking tour in July this year. John was friendly personable and fun and had an extensive knowledge of local history, best restaurants, shops and sights to see in La Rochelle. All the information he gave us was 100 per cent accurate. Do try the recommended bakery and restaurant - you won't be disappointed! A must try experience when in la Rochelle. Thanks John. Read more Written 12 July 2019
• ChrisinPerth 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must for visitors to La Rochelle Thanks John for showing us La Rochelle and all the tips to find the best tours, restaurants, hidden gems (the pineau a highlight!) and all with a friendly and fun approach. The tour was a great balance of history and current life and I would recommend the tour highly to anyone. My big tip for travellers is to go and the beginning of your stay so you can find all the good things to do and places to go. Read more Written 7 July 2019
• 117nikkis 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great way to spend a couple of hours in La Rochelle. Thanks John for a really enjoyable tour around La Rochelle this afternoon. We learned so much, the pace was perfect for us and we loved your banter (and the pineau and guinguette tasters were an added bonus). Would totally recommend this. Read more Written 6 July 2019
• clonmelman 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Free walking tour After being in la Rochelle a few days we thought we had discovered most of the city ourselves until we took the walking tour with John, after 2 hours of learning about the history of the city along with plenty of tips on places to visit, eat & drink we discovered we had missed a lot of the hidden gems the city has to offer, would recommend taking this walking tour on the start of your visit to the city all delivered in a light hearted humorous way. Read more Written 25 June 2019
• Paloma A 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Two hours of fun! For somebody who comes to la Rochelle and wants to discover all the hidden and wonderful facts about the city. John was a wonderful guide both combining fun tips with historical facts that made our two hours fly by. He even gave us restaurant and typical bar names to go to! We fully recommend taking his tours Read more Written 23 June 2019
• annemB9213PG 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles La Rochelle Walking Tour We stayed in La Rochelle for a few days without knowing much about it and decided to do this tour on a whim. It was a great decision - John was really friendly, witty and knowledgeable and told us some interesting bits that only 'locals' would know. He really looked after us - he could see that my old feet were getting tired towards the end so arranged for us to stop at a cafe for a while before moving on. Plus it's free!! Read more Written 18 June 2019
• P2756YSdavidL 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Experience My wife and I took the tour with John and it was fantastic! Great insights into a fascinating city with a nice blend of history, things to see and do and recommendations on where to eat and drink. We would thoroughly recommend doing the tour with John who clearly has a passion for the city and great enthusiasm for what he is doing! 10/10!! Read more Written 14 June 2019
• 175chillyc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent morning We spent a morning with John walking around La Rochelle, where he taught us loads of really cool secrets of the town and introduced to some great bars, restaurants and local charms! We even had a drink and wee snack with some locals along the way- great morning! Read more Written 14 June 2019

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Guided Walking Tour of La Rochelle provided by Discover La Rochelle

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La Rochelle

Hiking around La Rochelle

Want to go hiking around La Rochelle to explore more of this corner of New Aquitaine? In this guide, we’ve reviewed our full collection of hikes and walking routes around La Rochelle to bring you the best hiking routes in the region. To see which of our walks around La Rochelle is the right one for you, browse real tips and photos uploaded by other hikers—and see what they had to say about each walk.

The best walks and hikes around La Rochelle

Ars-en-ré – boucle dans le parc naturel marin de l'estuaire de la gironde, loix et le pointe du grouin – boucle sur l'île de ré.

Let us show you the way with the komoot mobile app

Pointe des minimes – boucle, phares des baleines et plage de la loge – boucle sur l’île de ré, saint-jean des sables – boucle de le parc naturel marin de l'estuaire de la gironde, la flotte en ré – boucle, forêt de benon – boucle, vieux-port et marché couvert de la rochelle – boucle, la pointe du plomb – boucle, le bois-plage-en-ré – boucle, explore these walks and hikes on the map.

Our Tour recommendations are based on thousands of activities completed by other people on komoot.

Popular around La Rochelle

Hiking Collection by komoot

Find the perfect Tour

Explore the most popular tours around la rochelle, discover the most popular attractions around la rochelle.

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